Method and apparatus for handling bricks in bulk for drying and burning.



- N v .R. 0. PENPIELD.- METHOD ANDAPPABATUS FOE HANDLINQBEIGKS IN BULKFOR-DRYING AND BURNING. I

APPLICATION rum) OCT, 7, 190a" Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET 1 R. 0. *PEN PIELD. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLINGBRICKS IN BULK FOR DRYING AND BURNING.

11 658. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7, 1908. 22,

' 4 SHEETSSHBET 2' 'oooo o oooo I 1 H n I: n

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. I APPLICATION FIND OUT. 7, 190a.

1,121,658, v Y. Patented Dec. 2-2, 1914.

f ,4 sfiu'rsi gnnn'r-a I ATTORNEY I .RPQPENFIEL J I METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR HANDLING BRICKS IN BULK. FOB. DRYING. AND BURNING.

- H APPLICATION rumour. '1, 1908. '1' 14,121-;658.- PatentedDec.-22,v1914.-

- 4 SHEETS-SHEB'LL I BY J y RAYMOND C. PENFIELD, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BRICKS ,IN BULK FOR DRYING AND IBURNING.

Application filed October 7,

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, RAYMOND C. PEN- rnnin, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at New York city, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Methods and Apparatus for l'landling Bricks in Bulk for Drying andBurning, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to a method of and" apparatus for handling bricksand similar articles during their manufacture.

It is designed primarily to be employed in handling. the bricks afterthey leave the brick machine, and while they are undergoing the dryingprocess and being made ready for burning in the kiln, but before thekiln is reached.

15ft becomes important in the successful prosecution of brickmanufacturing, and-in order to obtain the best results in the other par1 of the manufacture. that a method of the land to which this inventionrelates should be employed, and accordingly I have devised the same sothat it may be used in conjunction with other processes and apparatus,or as an' independent system, according as the needsof each particularcase may require.

An approved modern system of handling bricks in the course ofmanufacture, from the time they leave the molding or forming machineuntil they are'burned and delivered from the kiln ready for use,consists in initially arranging the bricks in large unit stacks inproper spaced or hacked relation and subsequently handling them, withoutdisarrangement of this stacked formation, in such unit stacks from onestage and station to thenekt, usually by means of mechanical liftersadapted to engage the unit stack from beneath and transfer the same asrequired, while maintaining undisturbed the assembled stack formation.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide a method adaptedto materially facilitate and contribute to this general 'stack handlingscheme by providing a way whereby the step of drying th e' bricks can becarried outexpeditiously and effectively by providing adequate. spacesfor air circulation between the portions 'of a unit stack,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914:.

1908. Serial No. 456,626.

and the stack thereafter brought together again to its former assembledstate so that the subsequent handling thereof for transportation to thekiln may be carried out with the bricks in the standard unit stacks bythe same mechanism which handles them in the other steps of manufacture.I

The invention therefore comprises essentially a method of so stackingthe bricks in the unit stacks that the portions of the stack are capableof the requisite separation to provide adequate air circulatory spaces,separat ng the stack into such portions with air spaces therebetween,and again bringing the portions of the stack together into close 00-herent formation without in any way breakingup the stack arrangement.

The invention further has todo with a special construction of table orplatform support adapted to carry out such method.

A further idea of the invention is first to when said stack is to beproperly placed to receive the application of heat for drying,

set the brick 1n open stack formation; then my plan is to separatecertain parts of the stack from each other; or, in other words, 1'

enlarge the openings or interstitial spaces between some of the bricks,so that certain portions or sections of the stack may be more widelyspaced than when originally set, to the end that the drying action maybe more faithfully, adequately and uniformly per-1 formed thereon; andmy invention then includes the restoring of the bricks to the positionoccupied when originally set, this restoration taking place by bringingthesections close together again that were previously moved apart, or,in other words, contracting the interstitial openings or spaces fromtheir enlarged size to the former size. \Vhen the bricks are originallyset ac cording to the principle of this method, they are hacked in openor loose formation suitable for kiln burning, though not sufficientlywide apart (when the stack is quite large) everywhere for evenv andexpeditious drying, and. hence when ready to be placed in the drier orbrought under the action of the drying heat, it is found essential tospread them wider apart at certain places; but after tion suitable forburning, and are then ready plates of of illustration, therefore,

to be immediately transferred to the kiln. Furthermore, it is to benoted in connection with this method that the bricks of the lower layerof the stack formation are spaced apart to allow of the entrance offingers or some suitable lifting mechanism by which the stack of bricksis lifted as a whole from one point to another..

The apparatus whereby the bricks after being originallyset in loose oropen formation are spread more widely apart during the drying process,and are then brought together again into the original setting, isrepresented in the drawings and forms a part of this invention, thelatter comprising therefore not only the method but also the apparatus.While this apparatus is shown as portable, .it is not necessarily so;and when portable its portability. may .be achieved not only inconnection with a tramway or line, but in any other manner foundacceptable. 1 w

The invention, therefore, may be said to consist essentially in thesteps of the method herein described, and also in the construction,combination and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus, and inmanifold details and peculiarities thereof, substantially as will behereinafter set forth andclaimed. In the accompanying drawingillustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedcar for handling brick in accordance with the method herein specified.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation withthe rear gate partly broken away. Fig. l is a cross-section of the car,with its sectional platform spread apart for the purpose of therebyseparating certain parts of the stack of bricks from each other. Fig. 5is a sectional side elevation of a part of the mechanism for separatingthe sections of the car. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing anti-frictionmeans adapted to be used in connection with the movable sections of thecar.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe different figures of the drawing.

The car which forms one example of portable apparatus, belonging to thepresent invention, may, for example, as shown in Fig. 4, have a platformwhich consists of three equal longitudinal sections, the central-one ofwhich, 1, is relatively stationary, while the other two, 2 and 2, aremovable away therefrom and then back again into contact therbwith,according as it is desired to separate positions of the brick pile onsaid platform from each other, and then again to rejoin them together.Simply for purposes I have represented three sections (without beingconfined to that number), and each section 1, 2 and 2 is provided withthree pallets, each marked with the reference numeral 3, on whichpalwarp or bend when loaded up to'their full capacity. They are securedon the platform sections by means of screws or bolts 20, and

are hence adjustable and removable. Their length in the present exampleis preferably such as to accommodate nine bricks, and the bricks may,obviously behacked up to any height, say eight.

In hacking the-glcks upon my improved handling apparat backstop orveptli'zal longitudinal alining board 4: supported in a stationarymanner upon a frame alongside of a track on which the car moves, or itmaybe attached to the car. Hence, when the car is being loaded,

I preferably employ a the bricks on the pallets of the first section, 3

z'. 6. section 2, can be placed in accurate position thereon by causingtheir ends to lie against the back stop 4, which stands vertically andin exact line withtheouteredge of a pallet as shown in Fig. 3; and whenthe bricks are being so placed, they will be put at right angles to thestop 4:,a'nd spacedapart a uniform distance,the intervals betwcen thebricks being large enough for the insertion of lifting devices.

This placing of bricks is seen clearly at A, Fig. 2.- Of course, whenthe car is being, loaded the sections 1, 2 and 2*" are close together;as seen in Fig. 3, so that transversely on the car there will be threebricks to a row accurately alined with and against each other, "andtherewill be a large number of parallel rows between all of which there willbe openspaces as seen in the lower layer represented in Fig. 1. Thisspacing of the members of the lower row of bricks s uniform distanceapart makes it possible to insert the lifting fingers of any convenientand effective lifting mechanism, whereby the entire stack.

formation may at the proper time be removed from the car or otherportable apparatus and placed in the burning kilna or moved about frompoint to point as may be required in any of the'manufacturing processes.One example of lifting'mechanism is that shown and described in thepatent of William H. Francis, No. 859,445, dated July 9, 1907 andanother that shown and described in the patent of W. H. and G. Francis,No. 890,586, dated June 9, 1908. I cite these merely as sample machineswithout any intention of being limited to their use: In addition to thelongitudinal al ining board 4, it will be found convenient to em vplay-means at one or both ends of the car having the same function as thealining toned by hooks or clamps 7 to the Opposite parts of the car. Inlieu of the movable gates at the "ends of the car, permanent frames onthe 'car may be utilized. Said gates when in proper position to permitthe piling of the bricks will obviously be at right angles to theupright vertical faces of the alining board 4 and the bricks can be setaccurately within the rectangular space thus formed. Further describingthe platform of the car which T have stated consists of sections. 1, 2and 2 adapted to be held'closely to-' gether, as shown in Fig. 3, or tobe spread away from each other, as shown in Fig. 4:, I show in thedrawings one formof mechanism for, accomplishing the spreading apart ofsaid sections. This mechanism consists I essentially of a longitudinalshaft 8 situated below the platform "of, the car and supported insuitable bearings. This shaft is provided at certain oints, say near theends thereof, with cranli arms9, to which are pivoted links 10, one ofwhich has its opposite end pivotally connected to the underside of themovable platform-section 2 at 11, while the other is pivotally connectedto the underside of the movable platform-section ,2 at 12. Each crank 9projects in two directions so that it will provide pivotal points onopposite sides of the axis of the shaft 8 for the attachment of the twolinks 10 to said oppositely projecting portions of the crank 9. Thelongitudinal shaft 8 is susceptible of being rocked by means of a leverwhich is applied to either end of said shaft 8, as, for

example, at the squared part 14 shown in Fig. 5. The sections 1, 2 and 2of the platform of the car are provided with angle I pieces 15 securelybolted thereto and de signed to slide upon and alongside ofcorresponding angle pieces 16 which are supported rigidlyin the generalframework l'l of the car. In view of the fact that the Weight on thesections at times may be con sider'able, it may be found convenient, to

I employ anti-friction rollers or ball-bearings or the like, asindicatedat 1 8 in Fig. 6, in

order to reduce the-friction of these sliding sections as they move fromside to side. Obviously, moreover, the platform of the car may besupported upon the usual trucks as shown at 19 in Fig. 3. V

In the present example of ea" or portable apparatus, I have representedit as consisting of three longitudinal sections, the center of which isstationary, while the side ones are movable. I do not wish, however,tobe restricted to arr-ranging the sections in this way, forobviouslyone of the s deo nes may stationaryand the others movable, and

"surface for carrying a load of bricks for the purpose specified howeverthe platform may be supported and moved about.

From the foregoing it will be perceived "that when the sectional,platform is properly placed alongside of the alining board, and the endgates or alining devices have been turned at right angles to saidlongitudinal alihing board, the bricks may be laid in place. In Fig. l,the arrangement of these bricks is clearly shown viewed from the side;while in Fig. 2 they are seen viewed from the top. At the right in Fig.2 several courses of three each are seen, said courses running acrossthe ca r at right angles thereto, and said courses being spaced apartsuificiently to allow the introduction thereinto of the lifting parts ofwhatever lifting'apparatus is employed. It will be noted that on eachsection of the platform there is one brick on each transverse course. Asthe bricks are piled upon those lower courses each section of theplatform will carry a sethem other bricks are transversely placed toform the third layer, and so on all as clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2and 3. Thus the whole car load is in stack formation and may be termed aunit stack. The parts thereof on the separate sections of the platformare also smaller units and are complete in themselves, for it is obviousthat the nicks on each section of the platform abut closely againstthe'bricks on the adjacent section or sections, that is to say the rowsof brick on one platformrsection arenot tied ,into therows of brick onthe adjacent platform section, so that there is a more or less solidformation of these points, and while this is not objectionable forburning purposes, it is bad for drying, but by opening up the stackalong these planes of division the drying is made efiectual. Taking theentire car-load as a whole, therefore, it will be seen that the mass isbuilt up loosely or in open formation suitable for burning and alsosuitable for 'drying except Where the sub-units meet so that the hot airor other drying agency may easily pass through the openings thereof; andfurthermore that the whole mass is built with distinct lines of verticallongitudinal cleavage so that the longitudinal portions or smaller unitsof the mass are easily separable from'each other by the separatingmovement of the supporting platform on which the entire pile of bricksis mounted. In thus arranging the bricks to becarried through the drierand in ap plying thereto the steps of thepresent proc-- ess of spreadingapart the mass on lines of predetermined cleavage and then recombiningthe sections into an entire single mass again, it must be noted that allthe while there is to be borne in mind the idea of the ultimatedestination of the bricks in the burning kiln and the necessity ofplacing them in the burning formation in the original-setting, andmaintaining their burning formation until the burning chamber of thekiln is reached.

The method which I am describing is to -'be construed broadly thereforeas a method of taking a mass of material, the members of which haveoriginally been set in loose or burning formation with portions thereofadapted to be separated by predetermined lines of longitudinalcleavage,and carrying this mass to the drier, when it is opened on said lines ofcleavage in order to expose a greater surface to the drying action, andthen at the conclusion of the drying action re-coinbiningthe separatedpa-rtsiogether again without'destroying the loose or burning formationso that the mass ma be picked up and placed in the burning 0 amher.

- Obviously the method is capable of being changed within considerablelimits in its details without departing from the essence of theinvention, and also the mechanism whereby the mass of bricks is carriedabout can be changed greatly without going outside of the scope of myclaims. It is essential, however, that the original building oftheentire stack should be in kiln formation suitable for burning but withdetachable smaller units that are not tied together so that thesesmaller units may be separable from each other for drying or for anyother purpose. The means whereby the stack is transported into the driermay be a car or anyv other mechanical device, but it is important thatwhen-the stack is submitted to the action of the drying agent, orsubmitted to some other operation to which it may be necessary tosubject a mass of material, the entire stackwill be separated into itsindividual detachable smaller unit stacks to remain in this segregatedstate until after the car or other device has passed through the drierand themass of material issued in a dried or treated state ready to goto the kiln to be burned. In actual,practice, moreover, it will be foundthat the entire stack should have a perfectly rectangular form and thatthe complete highs of material or unit may be five or six hundred brickswhich under the influence of the drying agency,

whatever it may be and wherever situated, whether in a drier proper orinthe atmosshore, or some apartment. But after the rying action isconcluded the sections of the mass will be brought into closeassociation with each other in the manner fully described and set. forthin my main description, this being essential in order that the varioussections may be roperly placed in the kiln for the success ul burning ofthe brick and-so that a lifting mechanism may take hold of the entiremass on the car or sectional platform for the purpose of transferringthe same to the kiln for burning. It will be clearly understood,therefore, that vmy invention may take this form as well as -the other,and may omlt the initial active step of spreading apart certain sectionswhich have been piled up with predetermined lines of division, thepiling, as I have stated, being with open spaces and the method thenconsisting essentially of the closing up step of the process. In hackingthe brick, however, with open spaces between the subunits, instead ofpredeter mined lines of separation or cleavage or planes of division, itmust be understood that said open spaces are located in the same placesas the planes of division and that when, after the drying operation isperformed, the sections are brought together there will exist the linesor planes of cleavage similarly as explained in the main do scription.

By the term bricks as herein used, I mean to include, not only ordinarystandard building bricks, but any blocks of regular form for building orother purposes adapted or requiring to be handled and treated accordingto the method set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire tosecure by'Letters Patent. is: i

1. The method 'of treating bricks, which consists in arranging the samein regular stack formation adapted for definite lines of separation,separating such stack along the lines of separation into sub-stacks withair circulatory spaces thcrebctwcen. and again, bringing said sub-stackstogether to restore the stack to a unit formation, whereby it 1,1a1,eas

allelplanes, separating the stack alon' said lines of separation intosub-stacks wit vertical air circulatory spaces between the substacks,and again bringingzthe substacks of the stack together to restore itsunit formation while preserving the stacked relation of the bricks,whereby the stack may be further handled en masse.

3. The herein described method, which consists in hacking green bricksin open formation for kiln burning in unit stacks adapted to be handleden maase, with the stack formation arranged for vertical lines .ofcleavage, separating the stack into sub-stacks 'with vertical air spacestherebetween fordrying, and again bringing the sub-stacks of the stackclose together .to restore the unit stack for further handling en masseby a mechanical lifter. I

4. The herein described method, which consists n piling green bricks ontop of one another in definite relation and loose formation suitable forkiln burnin with each pile forming a unit stack a apted to be handled enmasse, separating such unit stack into parts with vertical air spacesbetween parts for drying, and again bringing'the parts of the stacktogether into close forma-.

tion, whereby the stack may again be handled as a unit for transfer tothe kiln.

5. The herein described method, which consists in hacking green bricksin loose or open formation suitable for burning and in unit stacks, withplanes of division adapted to separate the stack into sections,separating said sections along said planes during the drying operationto provide 'air circulatory spaces between sections, and then bringingthe sections back to original close formation to restore the unit stackwithout disturbing the loose burning arrangement,

whereby the unit stack may be subsequently handled en worse for transferto a kiln.

6. An apparatus of the kind described,

- comprising a platform composed of separable sections adapted to eachreceive a portion of a unit brick stack, and means permanentlyassociated therewith for positively separating the platform portionswith their stack and positively bringing them together :1 gain at willwhile still loaded to restore the unit formation of a stack thereon.

7. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a platform composed ofs parable sections, each section adapted to support a plurality oflayers, each a plurality of bricks wide-and long, and all in a unitstack formation, and positively operating connections to certain of saidsections adapted to effect relative movement thereof for spacing apart'pcrtions of said brick stack piled thereon, said connections beingformed to thereafter positively bring said sections together again atwill for restoring the unit stack formation.

8. In apparatus for handling brick, a suring in the same plane, meansfor moving face composed of a plurality of sections lysaid jsectionsrelatively to each other consisting essentially of a leverage mechanism,

and alining means placed longitudinally in,

g vertical position alongside of the said surace.

9. In an apparatus for handling bricks in the course of manufacturingthe same, the combination of a platform composed of a pluralityofsections,'means for moving said sections relatively to each other, avertical longitudinal stop device for enabling the bricks to be properlyplaced, and alining means at the ends of the platform for enablingthebricks to be )roperly placed.

10.. An apparatus of the k1nd described, comprising a platform composedof a plurality of separable sections each composed of a plurality ofspaced-apart pallets adapted to receive transversely thereon thelowerlayer of a sub-stack of spaced-apart bricks superposed instack-formation, and positively operating connections to certain of saidsections for positively separating the sections and bringing themtogether again at will to separate the sub-stacks with air circulatoryspaces therebetween and to bring said sub-stacks together again intounit stack formation.

11. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a platform composedof a plurality of separable sections each composed of threeseparatcdpallets s0 placed that the width from the outer edge of the oneon one side to the outer edge of the one on the other side isapproximately equal to the length of a brick, each section being adaptedto receive transversely thereon the lower layer of a sub-stack ofspaced-apart bricks superposed in stack-formation, and positivelyoperating connections to certain of said sections for positivelyseparating the sections and bringing them together again at will toseparate the sub-stacks with air circulatory spaces therebetween and tobring said sub-stacks together again into unit stack formation. 7

.12. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a platform'composedof a plurality of separable sections each composed of a plurality ofrelatively fixed and spacedapart pallets extending lengthwise of theplatform and adapted to receive a series of spaced-apart bricks placedthereon transversely of the pallets and of the platform,

separating said separable sections and positively bringing them togetheragain, said sections and vtheir pallets being so posi- '-tioned as tobring the bricks thereon into approximately touching engagement witheach other when the sections are brought together.

13. An apparatus of the kind. described, comprising a platformcomposedof a plurality of separable sections, each section having a width,corresponding' approxi mately to the length of a brick and. havingstacks into a single unit stack formation.

a length adapted to receive in spaced-apart relation the lower layer oftransversely arranged bricks. Qtasub-stack, and connections directlyconnected to certain of said sections for positively separating all ofthe sections with their superimposed sub-stacks .of bricks and forpositively bringing together again. said sections and their sub- 14: Anapparatus of the kind described,

*comprising a, platform composed of a plularly spaced apart andconnecting at one end to certain of the sections and at the other end tothe respectivelcrank arms, and

1,1a1,cca

means for simultaneously operating said crank arms and link mechanismsto spread said sections from closed position or to retract the sectionsfrom. spread position.

15. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a platform composedof a plurality of separable sections, each section 'having a Widthcorresponding approximately to the length of a brick and having alength-adapted to receive in spaced apart relation the lower layer oftransversely arranged bricks of a sub-stack, and spreading mechanism forsaid sections, comprising crank arms spaced apart lengthwise of saidsections, and rigid link mechanisms similarly spaced apart and 1connecting at one end to certain of the sections and at the other end tothe respective crank arms, means for simultaneously operat ng said crankarms and link mechanisms to spread said sections from closed position orto "retract the sections from spread position, the apparatus havingtransversely extendingjbearings for the platforms to travel upon intheir aforesaid movements, and said platforms having transverselyarranged guiding members to 005 eratewith said bearings in maintainingthe platforms in' roper alinement.

In testimony w ereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RAYMOND c. PENFIELD.

Witnesses:

FRANK PAUL, C. B. Scnnonos'n.

